Automobile lock system



Dec. 11 l 23.

. 1,477,317 T. R. CORNICK AUTOMOBILE LOCK SYSTEM Filed May 13 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 11 1923. 1,477,317-

T. R. CORNICK AUTOMOBILE LOCK SYSTEM Filed y 13, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I W Q attozmaq Dec. H 19523; I T. R. QORNICK I AUTOMOBILE L-OCK SYSTEM Filfid y 13. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 11,1923. I

UNITED STATES TULLY R. CORNICK, OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK SYSTEM.

Application filed May 13,

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern:

mobile Lock Systems, of which the following is a specification.

Thi invention relates to a locking apparatus for fuel feed systems of automobiles.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a locking means suitable for use for either gravity, pressure or vacuum feed systems.

A further object is to provide means for draining the vacuum tank when the main system has been cut ofi to prevent the use of the fuel in the gravity compartment of the vacuum tank.

A further object is to arrange in the vacuum system an auxiliary tank in theamain feed line, which will feed by gravity :1 given amount of fuel to the vacuum tank for initial starting purposes, where, for in stance, the carburetor mayhave been drained by an attempt to start the car when the main feed line is locked.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system which, while it is effectually locked against theft, will, however, permit of a. slight movement of the car when it is desirable perhaps to move the car a moderate distance in case of fire.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing my invention as applied to the vacuum system;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly section, of the auxiliary supply tank;

Fig. 3 is a view of the dash, disclosing the manner of locking the controlling valve of the auxiliary tank;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the drainage tank;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the valve-actuating and locking lever.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the usual vacuum system comprises a supply tank 1, a vacuum tank 2, and a carburetor 3, the-fuel being fed from the supply tank to the vacuum tank through the action of the vacuum produced by the engine. It is understood that when a certain amount of fuel is drained into the upper half of the vacuum tank 2, the vacuum ceases to operate, through a float,

1921; Serial No. 469,304.

and until the level of the fuel in said tank reaches a certain lower level, it feeds the carburetor by gravity alone. When this certain lowerlevel is reached, the vacuum is again operated untilthe original higher level is again reached, whereupon the operation is repeated. v

The numeral 4 indicates an auxiliary tank arranged in the supply line, at a higher elevation than the vacuum tank 2, being connected by a feed-pipe 5 to the sup-ply tank 1. Arranged within the auxiliary tank is a standp-ipe 6, extending well up into the tank, thereby at all times caving the tank partially filled with fuel, for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

A rotary valve is arranged directly below the auxiliary supply tank, having an inlet port 7 connected to the standpipe 6, and an outlet port 8, said ports being controlled by a rotary plug valve 9 having a transverse duct 10 which is adapted to communicate with the inlet and outlet ,ports 7 and 8 when in certain position. The outlet port is con nected by feed pipe 11 to the upper part of the vacuum tank 2, which "in turn 1s connected on the bottom by feed pipe 12 to the carburetor 3, thus completing the feed line between the main supply tank 1 and the car'- buretor 3.

The valve stem. 13 of the valve 9 is adapted to extend through the dash of the car, where it may be conveniently actuated by the operator. When the stem. is turned to the position which cuts off communication between the auxiliary tank and the feedpi} e 11, an arm. 14.- provided with an opening 15 is adapted to assume a horlzontal position, the opening 15 therein registering with the bolt 16 of the lock 17 in this manner preventing the unauthorized use of the car.

In view of the fact that the vacuum tank 2 always holds suflicient gas to allow the car to operate for some miles, it becomes neces: sary not only to close the gasoline line from the main suppl tank 1, but it is desirable to remove all of t e gasoline from the vacuum tank. T0 effect this, a branch or drainage tank 18' is arranged at an elevation sufliciently lower than the vacuum tank to allow the gasoline in the vacuum tank to drain into the drainage tank, being connected thereto by feed pipe 19, the end thereof extending into the draina. e tank and downwardly as at 20, very c ose to the bottom,

. supply tank.

thus efi'ecting the sealing of the pipe 20 when thevacuum tank is drained. It is desirable to draw from the drainage tank the contents thereof as the engine is again started, in order that it may properly function each and every time the engine is stopped. For

this purpose, I have preferably provided a tank with a syphoning r suction tube 21 whichextends from the bottom of the tank to the top, and in turn is connected to the feed-pipe arranged between the main suply tank and the auxiliary su py tank 4.

n this manner, I obtain the fulfe ect of the vacuum caused by the starting of-the engine, which has the effect of drawing off what gasoline may have entered the drainage tank from the vacuum tank.

Obviously, when rimning, it is necessa to have the'drainage tank so connected wit the main feed line and the vacuum tank that the gasoline will not flow from either point .into the drainage tank. For this purpose I have preferably extended the feed pipe 19 into the drainage tank and downwardly as at 20 and very close to the bottom. The drainage tube extending from very close to the bottom of the tank upward and after having made one coil (thereby prohibiting the passage of air upward and through said pipe) passes through the top of the tank, where it is connected to the main feed pipe 5, arranged between the main supply tank and the auxiliary tank 4. I arrange in the upper part thereof a reciprocating valve 24 normally held closed by the spring 25 against the valve seat 26. In this manner, with the reciprocating valve 24 in its normally closed position, the drainage tank becomes sealed or looked as soon as the open ends of the feed and drainage pipe ends are covered with gasoline.

In order to remove the gasoline from the vacuum to the drainage tank, it is necessary to open the reciprocating airvalve 24. This action, however, not only breaks the seal to pipe 20 leading to the vacuum but also to that of the coil pipe leading to the main it is therefore necessary to close the main feed pipe line 5 when air valve 24 is opened. l'have therefere preferably placed a cut-oiif valve 21 in feed line 5 inst behind the paint where the drainage coil connects with feed has and be w this tank 18 the l ply ta Cutoff valve 22 as, ex

the en he is running and valve 9 'is opened.

There era, with the engine running, valve 9 open, and valve 24 open, allowin air to enter the drainage tank, and vaive 21' closed, thereby cutting offthe main sup ly tank 1, it will be noted that the full e ect of the suction is exerted upon draining the drainage, tank. The action of the suction being so much more rapid than the gravity flow from the bottom of the vacuum tank through feed pipe 1,9,the drainage tank isimmediately drained, even though the same fuel is returning from the vacuum to the drainage tank through feed pi e 19. As soon as the engine has made severa revolutions and the suction started working, push rod 22 is actuated by the foot. A slight pressure on rod 22 releases the notch 23 from the projection, which allows the spring (22') to force the rod 22 up, thereby opening' valve 21, leading to the main supply tank 1. This action of valve 21' has caused the arm 27 thereto attached to be raised, which in turn releases the pressure on spring 25 of reciprocating valve 24, thereby allowin the valve 24 to close.

Ordinarily there is suflicient fuel in the carburetor to start the engine, after which the supply is taken from the vacuum tank 2. If, however, some unauthorized erson should attempt to start the engine, t ereby using up the fuel in the carburetor, the operator would have difiiculty in starting, inasmuch as the vacuum tank has been drained. To overcome this, I preferabl arrange an outlet 28 in the bottom 0. the auxiliary tank 4, which leads to the casing of the valve 9. The valve 9 is provided with an additional duct 29 which is arranged at an angle to the transverse duct 10, the duct- 29 being of such relation to the duct 10 as to cause the outlet 28 to register with the feed-pipe 11 when the valve is turned in that positi s of the vaive is turned to such a position as to discontinue communication between the auxiliary tank 4 and the feed-pipe 11, the valve being held and locked in this position by means of the locking bolt 16 engaging the opening 15 in the arm 14, which in turn is attached to the valve 9. v

Upon starting up the car, valve 9 is unlocked and turned to a position to establish communication through the stand pipe 6 in auxiliary tank 4 and the main feed line 11, thence through feed pipe 11- to the vacuum tank. The engine being provided with sufficient fuel for starting, bythe contents of the carburetor, whereupon the drainage tank is emptied. The push rod 22 is now released, closing the air valve 24 and opening the valve 21, establishing communication between the main supply tank and the feed line and the vacuum tank 2. The starting of the engine produces sufficient vacuum to start the circulation of fuel through the entire system. Should the operator in starting discover that an attempt has been made to start the motor, and the carburetor exhausted of its supply, the valve 9 is then turned to such a position as to establish communication with the outlet 28 in the bottom of the auxiliary supply tank 4, whereupon the contents thereof (in that the tank has been vented through pipe 30) is delivered to the feed-pipe 11, thence to the vacuum tank 2, and to the carburetor 3 by gravity, giving a sufiicient charge to start the engine, after which the usual system is brought into operation.

I claim:

1 fuel feeding system comprising a main supply tank, a carburetor, a vacuum tank interposed between the carburetor and the main supply tank, a drainage tank connected to the vacuum tank, said drainage tank being in communication with the vacuum feed line, a valve interposed between the vacuum tank and the main supply tank to cut of! communication therebetween and to permit passage of fuel from the drainage tank to the vacuum tank, and means for locking the valve.

2. A fuel feeding system including a main supply tank, a vacuum tank, and a carburetor, a feed-line extending between them. a

drainage tank in connection with said vacuum tank, means-for draining the fuel from the vacuum tank into the drainage tank, said means including an air v nt and a valve in the feed line between the ply and vacuum tanks.

3. A fuel feeding system including a main supply tank, a carburetor and a vacuum tank, a drainage tank having communication with said vacuum tank, and a. feedline extending from the main. supplytank, the

drainage tank and the Vacuum tank, means for draining fuel from the vacuum tank to the drainagetank lncluding an air vent-1n said drainage tank andmeans for feeding fuel from said drainage tank to. the vacuum tank, includlng a valve interposed between ,the main supply tank and the drainage tank.

4. A fuel feeding system including a main supply. tank, a carburetor and a vacuum tank, a drainage tank having communication with said vacuum tank, and a feed line extending from the main supply tank, the

main supdrainage tank and the vacuum tank, means for draining fuel from the Vacuum tank to the dralnage tank including an air vent in said drainage tank, means for feeding fuel from said drainage tank to the vacuum tank including a valve interposed between the main supply tank and the drainage tank. and an auxiliary tank in said feed line nor- .mally maintaining a reserve supply of fuel and provided withmeans to cut off the normal passage of fuel through the auxiliary tank.

5. A fuel feeding system including a main supply tank, a carburetor and a vacuum tank, a drainage tank having communication with said vacuum tank, and a feed line extending from the main supply tank, the drainage tank and the vacuum tank, means for draining fuel from the vacuum tank to the drainage tank including an air vent in said drainage tank, and means for feeding fuel from said drainage tankto the vacuum tank including a valve interposed between the main su ply tank and the drainage tank, an auxi iary tank in said feed line normally maintaining a reserve supply of fuel and provided with means to out o the normal passage of fuel through the auxiliary tank, and means for draining the reserve supply of fuelfrom said auxiliary tank tov the vacuum tank.

6. A fuel feeding system comprising a main supply tank, a carburetor, a fuel feed line therebetween, a vacuum tank interposed in said line, a drainage tank arranged on a. lower level than the vacuum tank and communicating with the lower end thereof, a valve arranged on the top of said drainage tank in communication with the main feed line, an air vent arranged in said drainage tank, actuating means 'for simultaneously closing said valve in the feed line and open ing said air vent whereby with the lock valve interposed between the auxiliary tank and the Vacuum tank closed, the contents of the vacuum 'tank ,will be received in the drain tank and with the lock valve open and the engine running, the contents will be drawn back into the vacuum .tank, when the actuating means is in one position, said actuating means when moved to the opposite direction adapted to close said air vent and establish communication between the main Suppl tank and the main feed line.

fuel feeding system including a main supply tank, a carburetor and a vacuum tank, a drainage tank having communication with said vacuum tank, and a feed line extending from the main supply tank, the

provided with means to cut off the normal passage of fuel through the auxiliary tank, meansfor draining the reserve supply of fuel from said auxiliary tank to the vacuum tank, said means including a duct connected with the bottom of the auxiliary tank, and an air vent in the top thereof, and means connecting the duct with the feed-line to the vacuum tank and the air vent with the atmosphere.

8. A fuel feeding system including a main supply tank, a carburetor, and a vacuum tank, a drainage tank and connection between the bottom of the-vacuum tank and the drainage tank, including and openended pipe terminating close to the bottom of the drainage tank, a feed-line extending from the main supply tank to the drainage tank and to the vacuum'tank, a drainage tamer? subjected to suction the valve may be operated to permit the drainage fuel in the drainage tank again to be delivered to the vacuum tank.

9. A fuel feeding system including a main suplp y tank, a carburetor, and a vacuum tan a drainage tank and connection between the bottom of the vacuum tank and the drainage tank, including an open-ended pipe terminating close to the bottom of the drainage tank, a feed-line extending fromthe mainvsupply tank to the drainage tank and to the vacuum tank, a drainage openended tube extending into the drainage tank and terminating close to the bottom thereof,

and connected with said feed-line, a valve interposed in the feed-line between the.

drainage tube and the main supply tank,

the vacuum tank can be drained into the drainage tank, and upon the vacuum tank the whole so'arranged that the fuel from beingsubjected to suction the valve may be operated to permit the drainage fuel in the drainage tank again to be delivered to the vacuum tank, an air valve mounted in said drainage tank. to permit the escape of air from the drainage tank as the vacuum tank is drained thereinto, and to break the liquid seal normally existing at the open ends of the tubes extending into said drainage tank, and means for actuating said air valve and said valve simultaneously.

in testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

Y TELLY R. CORNICK. 

